Xiang-Ying Sun

Increase in cardiac P2X1-and P2Y2-receptor mRNA levels in congestive heart failure

We wanted to study the expression of P2-receptors at the mRNA-level in the heart and if it is affected by congestive heart failure (CHF). To quantify the P2 receptor mRNA-expression we used a competitive RT-PCR protocol which is based on an internal RNA standard. The P2 receptor mRNA-expression was quantified in hearts from CHF rats and compared to sham-operated rats. Furthermore, the presence of receptor mRNA was studied in the myocardium from patients with heart failure. In the sham operated rats the G-protein coupled P2Y-receptors were expressed at a higher level than the ligand gated ion-channel receptor (P2X1). Among the P2Y-receptors the P2Y6-receptor was most abundantly expressed (P2Y6 > P2Y1 > P2Y2 = P2Y4 > P2X1). A prominent change was seen for the P2X1- and P2Y2-receptor mRNA levels which were increased 2.7-fold and 4.7-fold respectively in the myocardium from the left ventricle of CHF-rats. In contrast, the P2Y1-, P2Y4- and P2Y6-receptor mRNA levels were not significantly altered in CHF rats. In human myocard the P2X1-, P2Y1-, P2Y2-, P2Y6- and P2Y11-receptors were detected by RT-PCR in both right and left atria and ventricles, while the P2Y4-receptor band was weak or absent. In conclusion, most of the studied P2-receptors were expressed in both rat and human hearts. Furthermore, the P2X1- and P2Y2-receptor mRNA were upregulated in CHF, suggesting a pathophysiological role for these receptors in the development of heart failure.

D-myo-Inositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate is a selective antagonist of neuropeptade Y-induced pressor responses in the pithed rat

The antagonistic effects of a new inositol phosphate derivative, D-myoinositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate (PP56), on pressor responses to preganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulation and exogenously administered phenylephrine or neuropeptide Y (NPY) were investigated in vivo in the pithed rat. In this model an intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration of PP56 (1-50 mg/kg) dose dependently inhibited the increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) induced by a continuous infusion of NPY (2 micrograms/kg per min for 10 min). PP56 in a dose of 5 mg/kg i.v. bolus reduced the entire NPY dose-response curve (0.4-8 microgram/kg per min 10 min infusion) without any shift to the right indicating a non-competitive interaction. Furthermore, PP56 (10-50 mg/kg i.v.) was found to inhibit the pressor response to preganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulation and i.v. bolus injection of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine. The dose-response curves for increasing doses of phenylephrine and incremental preganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulation were not significantly altered by a lower dose of PP56 (5 mg/kg i.v. bolus). We conclude that PP56, representing a new class of synthetic drugs, can antagonize the actions of exogenous and endogenous NPY in vivo, an action which is specific for NPY within a limited dose range.

Does the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor contribute to blood pressure control in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Objective To study the effects of the selective neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226 in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in order to elucidate whether NPY function may be altered in the SHR and whether the NPY Y1 receptor plays a specific role in the maintenance of high blood pressure in this genetic form of hypertension. Methods Pithed and conscious SHR were studied after intravenous administration of 0.125–1 mg/kg BIBP 3226. The cardiovascular effects were evaluated under baseline conditions, under acute stress and after exogenous administration of 20 μg/kg NPY. The potentiating effects of NPY on pressor responses to phenylephrine and tyramine were studied in the SHR. Results Intravenous administration of 0.125–1 mg/kg BIBP 3226 dose-dependently inhibited the pressor response to exogenous NPY in pithed SHR. At higher doses BIBP 3226 had an effect duration of 20–40 min. In the pithed SHR, a 0.5 mg/kg bolus injection of BIBP 3226 shifted the pressor response curve for exogenous NPY significantly to the right. It also inhibited significantly the potentiating effects of NPY on pressor responses to phenylephrine and tyramine. In conscious SHR, 0.125–1 mg/kg BIBP 3226 did not reduce the basal blood pressure. In combination with a hypotensive dose of prazosin, administration of 0.5 mg/kg BIBP 3226 had no added effects lowering the basal blood pressure. A stressful stimulus, namely an air jet, caused a brief increase in blood pressure and heart rate in the conscious SHR. In this model, 0.5 mg/kg BIBP inhibited the heart rate response slightly but had no effect on the blood pressure response. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that, although the selective NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226 may shift the pressor response to exogenous NPY potently, it does not influence basal blood pressure significantly in the SHR.

Neuropeptide Y potentiates noradrenaline-induced contraction through the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor

To elucidate which neuropeptide Y receptor subtype is responsible for the neuropeptide Y-induced potentiation of the noradrenaline-evoked contraction in human omental arteries we used antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (Antisense), the new selective neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonist, BIBP3226 {(R)-N2-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl]-D-arginine-amide} and the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Neuropeptide Y significantly potentiated the noradrenaline-induced contraction in non-incubated vessels (pEC50 6.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.9 +/- 0.2) and in vessels incubated with 1 microM Sense oligodeoxynucleotide (Sense) (pEC50 6.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.2). In vessels incubated with 1 microM Antisense the potentiating effect of neuropeptide Y was completely abolished. BIBP3226 (1 microM) inhibited the neuropeptide Y-induced potentiation in human omental arteries (pEC50 5.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 6.4 +/- 0.2). Finally, messenger RNA for the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor was detected using RT-PCR. On the basis of our results we conclude that the neuropeptide Y-induced potentiation of the noradrenaline-induced contraction is mediated by the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor.

Comparative cardiovascular effects of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists ZD 7155 and losartan in the rat.

Binding experiments show that ZD 7155 is a potent angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist. In this study this novel substance was studied in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Congestive heart failure induces downregulation of P2X1-receptors in resistance arteries.

OBJECTIVE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by enhanced peripheral sympathetic nerve activity, increased vascular resistance and impaired peripheral blood flow. Besides noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y, the sympathetic nervous system also releases ATP, which has contractile effects mediated by different subtypes of P2-receptors on the vascular smooth muscle cells. The present study was designed to examine postsynaptic changes of the contractile responses to ATP and other extracellular nucleotides in CHF. METHODS CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation resulting in a reproducible myocardial infarction in Sprague-Dawley rats. Contractile responses were examined in cylindrical segments of aorta and the mesenteric artery after endothelium removal. To determine if an altered response was regulated on the transcriptional level, competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to estimate the amount of P2X1-receptor mRNA. RESULTS ATP, which is both a P2X1- and a P2Y-receptor agonist, induced a weaker contraction in the mesenteric artery from CHF as compared to sham operated rats. A decrease in both potency and maximum contraction was shown for the selective P2X1-receptor agonist, alpha beta-MeATP, in the mesenteric artery (pEC50 = 6.04 vs. 5.76, Cmax = 57% vs. 33%, sham vs. CHF operated rats), but not in the aorta. Competitive RT-PCR also revealed decreased P2X1-receptor mRNA levels in CHF operated rats in the mesenteric artery (9106 x 10(3) vs. 714 x 10(3) molecules/microgram, sham vs. CHF operated rats), while it remained unaltered in the aorta. To study the P2Y-receptor induced contractile effects, the P2X1-receptors were first desensitised with alpha beta-MeATP (10(-5) M for 8 min). After P2X1-receptors desensitisation, UTP and UDP induced strong contractions in both the mesenteric artery and in the aorta, while ATP and ADP were much less effective. These contractions were not altered by CHF, indicating that vascular contraction mediated by P2Y-receptors are unaffected by CHF. CONCLUSION CHF induces downregulation of P2X1-receptor stimulated contraction in the mesenteric artery depending on decreased mRNA synthesis for the receptor, while the P2Y-receptor activity remains unchanged. Downregulation of P2X1-receptors appears to be specific for peripheral resistance arteries. This may represent a compensatory response to enhanced peripheral sympathetic nerve activity and increased vascular resistance in CHF.

Characterization of Neuropeptide Y Receptors Mediating Contraction, Potentiation and Inhibition of Relaxation

In addition to its direct vasoconstrictive effect, neuropeptide Y (NPY) potentiates noradrenaline-(NA) induced contraction and inhibits acetylcholine-(ACh) induced relaxation: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the NPY receptor subtypes responsible for mediating these three responses. NPY, peptide YY (PYY) and pro34NPY (a NPY Y1 receptor agonist) induced equipotent and equally strong concentration-dependent contractions of guinea pig basilar arteries. NPY13-36 (a NPY Y2 receptor agonist), however, caused only weak contraction with significantly lower potency. The NPY-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by the selective NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP3226 (1 microM). NPY, PYY and pro34NPY but not NPY13-36 significantly potentiated the NA-induced contraction in guinea pig mesenteric arteries. The potentiation was significantly inhibited by BIBP3226 (1 microM). In precontracted guinea pig basilar arteries, ACh induced a concentration-dependent relaxation which was significantly inhibited by NPY, PYY and NPY13-36 but not by pro34NPY. BIBP3226 had no significant effect on the NPY-induced inhibition of the relaxation. These results suggests that the NPY Y1 receptors mediate the direct contraction and the potentiation of the NA-induced contraction but not the inhibition of the ACh-induced relaxation. This effect seems to be mediated by another NPY receptor subtype, presumably by the Y2 receptor, as judged from the agonist potency order.

Decreased density of mesenteric arteries but not of myocardial endothelin receptors and function in rats with chronic ischemic heart failure.

Summary: Mesenteric artery and cardiac ventricular endothelin receptors and endothelin-1-induced pressor responses were studied in normal rats and rats with chronic congestive heart failure induced by myocardial ischemia (4 weeks after coronary artery ligation). In mesenteric arteries of rats with chronic ischemic heart failure, endothelin receptor density was significantly decreased by 59%, whereas the dissociation constant was increased 2.8-fold, as compared with controls. There were, however, no changes in endothelin-receptor density or the dissociation constant in cardiac ventricular membrane preparations from rats with congestive heart failure as compared with controls. In pithed rats with congestive heart failure there was a reduced pressor response to a bolus injection of endothelin-1 (800 pmole/kg body weight), while the vasodilatory response was unaltered as compared with sham-operated controls. These results demonstrate that there is a decreased vascular endothelin-receptor function due to a down-regulated endothelin receptor. The in vivo data indicate that this is due to impaired endothelin A but not endothelin B receptor function. Thus, there is an impaired arterial but not cardiac ventricular endothelin receptor-mediated signalling system in the rat with chronic ischemic heart failure.

Vascular alpha-2 adrenoceptor function is decreased in rats with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVE Vascular alpha-2 adrenoceptor function of rats with congestive heart failure (CHF) was characterized in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. METHODS CHF was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by coronary artery ligation. Sham-operated rats served as normal controls. Postjunctional alpha-2 adrenergic responsiveness was assessed in vivo using the pithed rat model and in vitro in organ bath. Vascular alpha-2 adrenoceptor density was studied by receptor binding assay. RESULTS Four to 6 weeks after this surgical procedure, plasma catecholamines were markedly increased in CHF rats. In vivo vascular responses to alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists BHT933 and clonidine were significantly decreased in CHF rats (P < 0.001). Clonidine elicited dose-dependent responses in endothelium intact mesenteric arteries in both CHF and sham-operated rats. The dose-response curve in CHF was shifted to the right with a pD2 value of 5.5 +/- 0.2 compared with control rats 6.2 +/- 0.2 (P < 0.05). The response to clonidine was selectively blocked by an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist rauwolscine in both groups. Endothelium denuded arteries showed an enhanced response to clonidine in both CHF and control rats. However, the response to clonidine is still decreased in CHF compared to sham-operated rats (P < 0.05). Alpha-2 adrenoreceptor density, as determined by [3H]yohimbine binding in membrane preparations from mesenteric arteries was decreased in CHF compared to sham-operated rats (Bmax 43 +/- 6 vs. 104 +/- 20 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Vascular alpha-2 adrenoceptor function is decreased in rats with CHF.

alpha-Trinositol: a functional (non-receptor) neuropeptide Y antagonist in vasculature

Neuropeptide Y is a sympathetic co‐neurotransmitter released with noradrenaline upon sympathetic nerve stimulation. This study describes the ability of a synthetic inositol phosphate, α‐trinositol (d‐myo‐inositol 1,2,6−triphosphate; PP 56) to antagonize vasoconstrictor responses to neuropeptide Y in‐vitro as well as in‐vivo.